Should government support religion with taxes?

OCR: 4 cited passage(s) are machine-read (OCR) text of old printings; quotations reproduce the stored OCR text, misreadings included.

Reporter's notes: some cited speeches survive only as a reporter's shorthand record, not the speaker's own text.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated): James Madison believed that government should not interfere with the exercise of religion, and that all men should enjoy the fullest toleration in the exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience, unpunished, and unrestrained by the magistrate. This indicates that he did not support government support of religion with taxes, as such support would constitute interference. "That Religion, or the duty which we owe to our CREATOR, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence: and therefore, that all men should enjoy the fullest toleration in the exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience, unpunished, and unrestrained by the magistrate" [1]
• BELIEF (1784-12-24): James Madison believed that government should not support religion with taxes. He argued that religious establishments tend toward uniformity and penal laws, and that religious liberty can thrive without government support, citing examples like Pennsylvania and New Jersey. "I. Rel. not within purview of civil authority. Tendency of estabg Xnty. 1. To project of uniformity. 2. To penal laws for support2 it." [2]
• BELIEF (undated): James Madison believed that government should not support religion with taxes because it violates equality and the principle of free exercise of religion. He argued that such support would be an abuse of power and an unjust burden on some while granting exemptions to others. (key quote above) [3]
• BELIEF (undated): James Madison believed that government should not support religion with taxes because it would be a dangerous abuse of power and a violation of the people's rights. He argued that allowing the government to establish religion would lead to tyranny and that the same authority could be used to favor one religious sect over others. [4]
• ACTION (1811-02-21): James Madison vetoed a bill on February 21, 1811, that would have incorporated the Protestant Episcopal Church in Alexandria. He argued that the bill violated the Constitution by establishing a religious organization through law and by granting it authority to provide for the support of the poor and education of poor children, which could set a precedent for religious societies to perform public and civil duties. "Because the bill vests in the said incorporated church an authority to provide for the support of the poor and the education of poor children of the same, an authority which, being altogether superfluous if the provision is to be the result of pious charity, would be a precedent for giving to religious societies as such a legal agency in carrying into effect a public and civil duty." [5]
• ACTION (1811-02-28): James Madison vetoed a bill on February 28, 1811, because it would have set a precedent for the appropriation of federal funds for the use and support of religious societies, which he believed violated the Constitution's prohibition on a religious establishment. (key quote above) [6]
• BELIEF (1822-07-10): James Madison believed that government and religion should be separated, and that religion flourishes in greater purity without government aid. He argued that examples such as the Colonies and Virginia showed that religion can exist in greater purity when not supported by public authority. (key quote above) [7]
• BELIEF (1822-07-10): James Madison believed that government and religion should be separated, and that religion and government would both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together. He argued that examples such as the Colonies (now States) showed that all sects could be safely and advantageously put on a footing of equal and entire freedom without government support. "I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in shewing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together." [8]
• ACTION (1826-07-14): James Madison participated in an action to oppose a bill that would have provided legal support for teachers of the Christian religion. He drafted a remonstrance against the bill, which was circulated and signed widely, leading to the bill's failure and the eventual enactment of the bill 'Establishing Religious Freedom.' "it was insisted with success that the bill should be postponed till the evening session, and in the meantime be printed for public consideration. That the sense of the people might be the better called forth, your highly distinguished ancestor Col. Geo. Mason, Col. Geo. Nicholas also possessing much public weight and some others thought it advisable that a remonstrance against the bill should be prepared for general circulation and signature and imposed on me the task of drawing up such a paper." [9]
• BELIEF (1832): James Madison believed that government should not support religion with taxes, as demonstrated by his argument that religious establishments are unnecessary for the flourishing of religion or good government, and that the contrast in religious character after the abolition of legal support in Virginia shows that government support is not needed. "It will not be denied that causes other than the abolition of the legal establishment of Religion are to be taken into view in accountg for the change in the Religious character of the community. But the existing character, distinguished as it is by its religious features, and the lapse of time now more than 50 years since the legal support of Religion was withdrawn sufficiently prove that it does not need the support of Govt." [10]

What cuts against it

• ACTION (1784): James Madison voted for the incorporation of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia as a strategic move to prevent action on a more important bill for religious assessments. "Madison himself voted for it, as a strategic movement, to ward off action on the more important bill for religious assessments." [11]

• ACTION (undated): James Madison opposed a bill for a religious assessment, but the passage does not specify his reasoning, leaving room for interpretation. "Bill for a religious assessment." [12]

• BELIEF (undated): Notes of a speech in opposition to the General Assessment Bill for the support of religious teachers are paraphrased by a reporter, not verbatim, and do not provide direct quotes from Madison. "NOTES OF SPEECH IN OPPOSITION TO THE GENERAL ASSESSMENT BILL FOR THE SUPPORT OF RELIGIOUS TEACHERS" [13]

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. James Madison believed that government should not support religion with taxes because it violates equality and the principle of free exercise of religion. (key quote above) [3]

2. He argued that such support would be an abuse of power and an unjust burden on some while granting exemptions to others. (key quote above) [3]

3. Madison believed that government and religion should be separated, and that religion flourishes in greater purity without government aid. (key quote above) [7]

4. He vetoed bills that would have incorporated religious organizations or set a precedent for the appropriation of federal funds for the use and support of religious societies. (key quote above) [6]

5. Madison believed that religious establishments are unnecessary for the flourishing of religion or good government, and that the contrast in religious character after the abolition of legal support in Virginia shows that government support is not needed. "It will not be denied that causes other than the abolition of the legal establishment of Religion are to be taken into view in accountg for the change in the Religious character of the community. But the existing character, distinguished as it is by its religious features, and the lapse of time now more than 50 years since the legal support of Religion was withdrawn sufficiently prove that it does not need the support of Govt." [10]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

James Madison directly addressed the question of whether government should support religion with taxes. He consistently opposed such support, arguing that it violates equality, the principle of free exercise of religion, and constitutes an abuse of power.

Extrapolation: James Madison would oppose government support of religion with taxes, citing the necessity of separating church and state to preserve religious freedom and prevent tyranny.

Competing readings: The editor's note in [11] suggests that Madison may have voted for the incorporation of the Protestant Episcopal Church as a strategic move, but this does not contradict his stated beliefs about the necessity of separating church and state.

Confidence: High, based on multiple direct statements and actions from Madison that clearly oppose government support of religion with taxes.